I was sitting with Sanchez in the visitors’ parking lot at UCI.
We were in the northeast lot, which abutted the faculty parking, which also happened to give me a great view of the social science building where Cindy Darwin not only taught but also had an office.
A heck of a strategic spot.
“ And you really bounced his head off the table?” said Sanchez.
“ It seemed like the thing to do,” I said. “An impromptu head slamming.”
“ So much for subtly,” he said. “Ever consider calling Detective Hansen?”
The day was bright and warm. The students that strolled along the cement paths that connected the many buildings were all wearing shorts and tee shirts.
“ And tell him what?” I said. “That I have a twenty-year-old picture of someone who had shown an interest in my mother on the day she was murdered?”
“ Someone who happens to resemble the detective’s son. A son who has a history of violent crime.”
“ And what would Hansen do with that information?” I asked.
Sanchez thought about it and sipped from his Coke. The windows were down in my Mustang, but it was still warm enough for both of us to sweat. “Probably file it away. Get to it when he has some free time. When less pressing matters have been taken care of.”
“ And when are a homicide detective’s less pressing matters ever taken care of?”
“ Almost never. But he’s a friend. He would get to it when he could.”
“ I can’t wait that long,” I said.
“ You’ve waited twenty-two years.”
“ That’s when I didn’t know who the killer was.”
“ And you do now?”
I nodded and felt the sweat trickle down through my hairline. “As sure as I can be.”
“ Sure enough to bounce someone’s head off of a table.”
“ Sometimes you gotta kick the hornet’s nest,” I said.
“ Or break its nose,” said Sanchez. “He’s got to be nervous.”
I nodded. “That’s what I’m hoping.”
“ You think he’ll make a move?”
“ We’ll see.”
“ And you think his move might be directed towards Cindy?”
“ He’s a monster,” I said. “Monsters can do anything.”
“ So what’s next?” asked Sanchez.
“ We wait.”
“ For what?”
“ The monster to reveal himself.”
“ And until then we watch Cindy?”
“ Yup. One of us. At all times. And if we’re both busy, I’ll hire someone.”
Sanchez pointed toward Cindy’s building. “Does she know we’re watching her?”
“ She knows. She doesn’t like it. But she knows.”
Sanchez shrugged. “And what if he never rears his ugly head?”
“ He will,” I said.
“ And if he doesn’t?”
“ Then I’ll keep kicking,” I said. “And keep breaking. And did you just say ‘rears his ugly head’?”
“ Me talk pretty.”